Wiltshire emergency social care to face strike ballot over 'fire and rehire'
Our members are furious not only with the proposed pay cut but that their employer is threatening to actually fire them to force this through, says GMB union
GMB, the trade union for Wiltshire Council, is balloting 21 social workers who work in Adult Social Care and Childrens Services, for strike action.
These social workers provide the out of hours service for child protection and to support vulnerable adults, particularly those needing mental health support.
Wiltshire Council is proposing to remove a 20 per cent contractual uplift from 25 social workers for evenings, nights, early mornings and weekends.
Traffic Wardens in Wiltshire have already conducted 11 days of strike action since March 2022 over the same issue.
Andy Newman, GMB Branch Secretary said:
“GMB are proceeding to conduct a formal industrial action ballot of the overwhelming majority of the out-of-hours social workers in Wiltshire Council.
“Our members are furious not only with the proposed pay cut but that their employer is threatening to actually fire them to force this through.
“Social workers are caring professionals, and to be driven to strike action shows just how angry they are at how they have been treated.
“We have already had several days of strike action from traffic wardens, who are themselves facing a 10 per cent pay cut and these social workers are now joining what is already one of the longest campaigns of industrial action that GMB have conducted.
“It beggars belief that highly skilled social workers, who are already very hard to recruit and retain, are facing pay cuts of between roughly £400 and £650 per month.
“This is a huge gamble by the council management, and there is no guarantee that they would even be able to provide these vital services if they go ahead with dismissing these staff.”
